[Archived] Rovers versus Manchester City, 25th April 8pm

[tony gale's mic]

Allardyce didn't 'mould a perfect system around' the triers and grafters, it's the only ###### way he knows how to play.

He certainly wouldn't have brought on an inexperienced striker in midfield today, that's for sure.

[Mc Love]

Brad & Chris saying we didnt deserve to lose

[tony gale's mic]

Rubbish.

Tell you what, look at this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9466653.stm - despite what people say about bias, if it was that contentious a decision you'd expect something mentioned.

Didn't hear much mentioned on the commentary either.

[Exiled_Rover]

I couldn't fault the effort of the players. I thought that Phil Jones, Salgado, Jermaine Jones had fine games. But for all the hard work, we didn't test Joe Hart and the only real chance we created, Jason Roberts totally fluffed. We started the second half very well but we just couldn't create the clear cut chances that we needed. Hopefully we can carry this sort of effort into the Bolton game, which now becomes a must win one.

Sadly I can see Bolton comfortably out grafting us and winning 2-0. We've thrown away two points in the last two games.

We're gone.

[Ferrit]

Sadly who else do you play. Pedersen? He's just as bad.

I wouldn't have shipped Diouf out in January. He'd get the nod over Emo for me.

[Eddie]

Aside from Roberts's obligatory gilt-edged chance, our strikers never got a nice, clean sight of goal this evening. On the rare occasions our midfielders do put their foot on the ball, instead of stretching for it, they play either low percentage long balls or low percentage balls into the channels. We simply cannot retain, or take advantage of, possession.

You have the Roberts gilt-edged chance and there were several other times when they had the ball at their feet just outside or inside the box and failed to work the keeper to any degree.

How many chances do you want in this league?

Not many sides create more than one clear-cut opportunity and a few half chances against a top four team.

How many clear cut chances did City have? The goal and...?

[DanLad]

Tell you what, look at this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9466653.stm - despite what people say about bias, if it was that contentious a decision you'd expect something mentioned.

Didn't hear much mentioned on the commentary either.

I can make my own mind up. I don't need to be spoon feed other peoples views.

[Montfort]

Sounds like we did OK but I am finding this all very painful.

[RoyRover]

Brad & Chris saying we didnt deserve to lose

We didn't.

[bastionRover]

As much as it pains me to say it, what with being one of Keans biggest critics, I can't blame him too much for that. Apart from, of course, picking Emerton. That guy is so bad it's not even funny.

We were guilty of missing glaring chances, Roberts/Olsson and Jones in particular. The simple matter of the fact is you can't miss chances like those in this league. Set pieces were also a joke, how many good opportunities did we have to get the ball into a good area only for an absolutely dire delivery from Dunny or Emo? Appauling really.

Onto Bolton, anything less than 3 points and we're gone.

Agree with this 100%

Emerton = poor.

[tony gale's mic]

I can make my own mind up. I don't need to be spoon feed other peoples views.

No, you're massively biased.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

He certainly wouldn't have brought on an inexperienced striker in midfield today, that's for sure.

Dunn was injured. Your options are either Pedersen, Diouf, Formica or Rochina. You tell me which one and i'll tell you what's wrong with your choice. There was no easy option. We didn't concede because of it. We played well. Kean did as much as he could do. Unlucky. There are games where players and the manager are at fault but not tonight.

[Eddie]

Sadly I can see Bolton comfortably out grafting us and winning 2-0. We've thrown away two points in the last two games.

We're gone.

Cannot see the point in an attitude like that.

We aren't in the relegation zone.

We've actually played quite well today.

The teams around us are all playing terribly as well.

[Emge]

Unlucky tonight, we showed some fighting spirit and if we take this into the Bolton game I think we can make a good win.

I'd start with this selection against Bolton:

Robbo

Salgado-Samba-P.Jones-Givet

N'Zonzi

Hoilett-MGP-Olsson

Kalinic-Rochina

[Mc Love]

We didn't.

I know - feel really sad that we cant score given our chances not to mind test the goalie

[PAFELL]

If we'd had that goal ruled out we would've been absolutely fuming.

Ballotelli isn't really blocking Robbo's view when the ball is struck, and there's no way he would've got anywhere near it either way.

Heard you can get a good deal at spec savers. Look at the replay - the off side rule is pathetic. Good performance tonight against a good team.

[tony gale's mic]

I agree Emo was mostly poor, but if Benjani had got a better connection on that cracking delivery in the first half we wouldve all been seeing things differently.

[brian_gallagher85]

Another game another mugging perhaps we might get a decision next season in the nPower. Hope the "know it all" fans calling for Kalinic for about an hour tonight are happy it was crystal clear that Benjani was causing them all sorts of problems all night long but a few calls for our "wonder striker" & a spineless manager obliges. These are the fine margins between success and failure and we're only heading one way...

I'm going to miss Phil Jones next season

[K-Hod]

I thought we played well for the most part, particularly second half, no complaints about the offside nature of the goal either tbh. Set pieces were dreadful in the main, and as bad as Pedersen has been I'd sooner see him on the pitch than Emerton, he brings nothing to the side. Will be interesting to see what happens in the way of protests et al tonight, though for what it's worth I don't overly blame Kean for tonight.

We've been toothless up front for ages, was surprised to see Benjani make way for Kalinic, Roberts surely would have been the more likely player to go off in my view, based on his performance.

Another game against City where we get sucker punched......

[roverwhelmed]

The first few minutes, I was bricking myself.

I am overal pleased with the performance. We are not scoring goals and that is terrifying.

But there was fight, determination and passion out there tonight, and I felt they gave it everything.

AGAIN penalty decisions don't go our way...disappointing.

[roverandout]

why wasnt formica brought on? i know he hasnt played alot for a few months but he could have weaved a bit of magic that might have salvaged something, rovers were unlucky tonight no doubt but at the end of the day we dont get any points for being unlucky, if anyone thinks bolton will be any easier after their win over arsenal, they are deluded. This performance shouldnt change people's stance of kean, the guy is still a grade A numpty. Rovers gave the ball away far too many times this evening, lumping up to the front men in hope they would get on the end of it.

[tony gale's mic]

Cannot see the point in an attitude like that.

We aren't in the relegation zone.

We've actually played quite well today.

The teams around us are all playing terribly as well.

We played well at Arsenal only for it to be followed up by poor results.

The teams around us aren't playing terribly. We got away with it this weekend, but West Ham, Wolves and Wigan have all won 3 games since the start of February. Blackpool have won 1. We've won 0.

[DanLad]

No, you're massively biased.

No, I'm not.

I appreciate that it is very easy to be subjective when it comes to my support, however I try to remain objective.

[bigbrandjohn]

Heartbreaker but we had our chances -big chances- and we did not convert them. The margins are so narrow that if the Gods are against you, it just doesn't happen. sticking with the metaphor we need a miracle.

[tony gale's mic]

Another game another mugging perhaps we might get a decision next season in the nPower. Hope the "know it all" fans calling for Kalinic for about an hour tonight are happy it was crystal clear that Benjani was causing them all sorts of problems all night long but a few calls for our "wonder striker" & a spineless manager obliges. These are the fine margins between success and failure and we're only heading one way...

Yeah, because half an hour against City is the absolute best way to judge Kalinic, rather than the 4 goals in 6 games he scored before he was dropped.